Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-04-17
HE RETURNED.
IonsHcR IN REAL LIVE DEVELOPS
IN PEERsYLvASIA.
Jacob stanley. a Supposed Suicide, APP
lcars After Thirteen Years TO Claim
Bis Inheritance.

A Huntington (Pa.) special says: A
case involving a most intricate legal
problem and all the features Of ro-
nance was brought 10 the attention OF
the court here to-day. In 1872 Jacob
Stanley, an old Of eccentric habits,
died in Shavor's Creek, leaving property
worth $4,000. A protracted settle
ment OF his estate reduced this amount
20 atout S2F 900, end over this a long
and stubborn legal controversy was
wagcd.
Stanley left widow and son. The
widow had been his fifth wife, and the
son, Who was also named Jacob, was
supposed to be the child OF his second
wife, though it was found necessary TO
legitimize him by an act OF Assembly.
In carly life the son Jacob left home,
and in 1860 married. Helived with his
wife fourteen years. and in 1874 sud-
denly disappeared, since which time no
trace Of him could be obtained until a
few days ago, when he voluntarily put
himself in communication with NJ. S.
Leytle, On attorney in this city.
In 1868 young Stanley and his wife
went to Rebecca, Neb., where he was
appointed postmaster, but some ir-
regularitieg resulted in his being sent
to the house of correction at Detroit,
Mich. He was extravagant and impro-
vident, and it was, doubtless, his fathers
knowledge of these qualities that in
duced him to make peculiar will. The
instrument was executed in December,
1870, and two years later the testator
died. 1t provided that the real estate
should be rented by his executor and
the rents paid annually to his son, ia
cob, at whose death the property should
go to his heirs, including his wife. 1t
also provided that the executor might
sell the real estate at his discretion, and
that oil moneys at the death of the son,
Jacob, should be equally dividedsmong
his heirs.
In 1872 young Jacob and his wife re-
turned from the West after the death
of his father. He bad left numerous
creditors in this State, and as his
fathers will did not provide that the
annuity should not be liable for the
sons debts the latter's creditors OBJ
tanned Judgments against him and at
tached the money in the hands of the
executor. so that he never received any
of it. Being childless, Stanley deter
mined upon obtaining an heir 10y adop-
ton, and selected q boy three years
old, named George Lightner, son of a
very poor man in Stone Valley.
PECULIAR DISAPPEARANCE.
Stanley continued to live with his
family until February l3, 1874, when
he very mysteriously disappeared, leav-
ing a note for his wife, in which he
stated that he had concluded to drown
himself and that his body would be
found in the Juniata river. His coat,
hat, and other articles of clothing were
found at the place indicated, but,
although diligent search was con-
tinued for several weeks in the
river, no trace of his body was
ever found. After waiting for
seven years Mrs. Stanley took ont
letters of administration on bis estate
and a distribution of the property left
by old Jacob Stanley was made equally
between her and the adopted son. Soon
after her husbands supposed death
Mrs Stanley remarked and located i'll
one of the extreme western States,
where she is still living. The adopted
son, who is now in his fifteenth year,
resides with his natural parents in this
county. A considerable portion of his
share of the division has been expended
on his education.
Now comes the sequel of this singu-
lar story. In January last Stanley,
whom every one believed to be dead,
wrote to N. S. Leytle, of this city I'M
der the assumed name of w. w. VIII
liams. He was then living in Boston,
but now resides i'll North Dighton,
Mass. He made inquiries after the
Stanley family, and particularly about
the estate of old Jacob Stanley. Mr..
Leytle, having been his attorney,
at once recognized the handwriting,
and during the correspondence
that followed Stanley threw off
his disguise and acknowledged his
identity. He has never been away from
Massachusetts,, he says, since his sud-
den disappearance from here thirteen
years ago. In his letters he expresses
for his cratic course, but
says that under his assumed name he
has lived an exemplary life and has
acquired good reputation. He now
desires that his fathers estate, long
since divided between his wife,
who has since remarked, and their
adopted son, be recovered and trans
fcrred to himself, and to this end his
attorney to-day began the preliminary
proceedings in the prosecution before
Judge Furst. Whether the estate can
be recovered is a question over which
there is much difference of opinion
here, inasmuch as the court six years
ago accepted the supposition of Stab
ley's death by reason of his protracted
absence and his expressed determine
i,o,, 10 commit et1ini1a